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Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, |
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"Lolita, light of life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta." |
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"I shall never regret Lolita. She was like the composition of a beautiful puzzle-- its composition and its solution at the same time. Of course she completely eclipsed my other works, but I cannot grudge her this. There is a queer, tender charm about that mythical nymphet." Vladimir Nabokov, in 1964 |
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NABOKOV, Vladimir. Lolita. Paris: Olympia Press, (1955). Octavo, original green paper wrappers. Two volumes. $9,000. First edition of one of the most important novels of the twentieth-century. Controversial since its conception, Lolita was rejected by American publishing houses until finally accepted by the avant-garde Olympia Press in Paris and published in a fragile two-volume format. First issue, with printed price "Francs: 900" on rear wrapper. Wrappers in exceptionally fine condition with only light creasing to spine (as always) and small spot of clear residue at lower right of rear wrapper of volume II; ownership signature on front free endpaper of each volume and three ink marks (one small line in margin, one word written in margin, and neat notation in felt pen documenting the owner's reading progress on page 130 of volume I) in text. An outstanding copy, most rare in this condition. |